DUBLIN, OH — Verizon Wireless announced today it invested $302 million in 2011 to enhance its network in Ohio, which includes the expansion of 4G LTE to 45 cities and towns across the state.

The company’s continuing investment to support Ohio’s infrastructure required for economic development and robust business growth included:

Adding new cell sites and upgrading equipment on existing cell sites to increase coverage and capacity of the company’s voice and data network;

Installing permanent backup generators at cell sites to ensure the network remains reliable during times of crisis;

And prepping the backbone of the network to deploy 4G LTE at urban and rural locations across the state.

“The reliability of Verizon’s network is a vital key for not only businesses, research parks, start-ups and entrepreneurs, but also for consumers,” said Mark Frazier, president–Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless. “As Verizon continues to cover America with the blazing fast speeds 4G LTE offers, customers will depend on our network even more, thereby changing the face of how we do business and how we rely on wireless devices.”

Frazier said the strategic investment will help major urban centers as well as innovative rural broadband communities across Ohio to be front and center as they bid on new businesses and host major sporting events like the 2013 NHL All-Star Game.

Since the company was formed in 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $2.2 billion on improvements to its network in Ohio.